ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Trauma is a leading cause of death, disability, and human suffering worldwide. Each year approximately 100,000 people die of traumatic causes in the United States alone. Traumatic injuries are responsible for more than half of deaths in the age group 15 to 24 and the fourth most common cause of mortality across all age groups. When considering medical expenses, lost wages/productivity and other related expenditures, the cost of trauma to the American public totals hundreds of billions of dollars. These statistics help shed light on the demographics and financial impact of trauma, but do little to help us understand and quantify the individual pain and suffering experienced by trauma patients. Aggressive pain management early in the course of treatment facilitates rehabilitation and may help prevent permanent disability due to chronic pain syndromes.
